Gyratory amusement device with sounding means



A ril 28, 1970 H. E. JERNSTROM ET A 3,508,359

GYRATORY AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH SOUNDING MEANS Filed Dec. 18, 1967 Ill III/H INVENTORS HA/VS E. JEIQ/VSTQOM P045597 5. M K4 Y MAfiW/V 61455 av gm 3*. W

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,508,359 GYRATORY AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH SOUNDING MEANS Hans E. Jernstrom, Northbrook, Marvin I. Glass, Chicago, and Robert S. McKay, Morton Grove, 11]., as-

signors to Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, 11]., a

partnership Filed Dec. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 691,385

Int. Cl. A63h /00 U.S. Cl. 4652 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Game apparatus which provides for cooperation of two players in effecting rotational movement of a pendulumlike portion of the apparatus. An elongated member is supported at its ends in a generally horizontal position by the application of pressure by each of two players positioned with their bodies pressed against the ends of the member. The elongated member pivotally supports a depending pendulum-like part, which is weighted adjacent its free end, and such part can be rotated about the axis of the elongated member by cooperative body motion of the players. A bell is pivotally mounted in an aperture in the pendulum-like part. The bell includes a clapper which extends beyond the bottom edge of the bell and engages an edge portion of the aperture in which the bell is mounted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to game apparatus of the type which requires physical activity on the part of the players. The present invention is particularly distinguishable in that the apparatus is supported between a pair of players, through the use of body pressure on opposite ends of the apparatus and without the use of the players hands, and the body motions of the players is translated into rhythmic motion of a part of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Game apparatus comprising an elongated member, a pair of support means at the opposite ends of said elongated member, each having an outwardly facing surface portion adapted to fit against the body of a player, whereby said member is supported in a generally horizontal position through body pressure on the ends thereof by the players, and a part secured to an intermediate portion of said member in outwardly projecting relation thereto and for movement about the axis of said member, said part being formed with its center of gravity spaced away from the axis of said elongated member, whereby translatory movement of said elongated member is effective to cause swinging movement of said part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the game apparatus supported between a pair of players;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the game apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 2, with parts broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated in the drawings, the present invention provides game apparatus comprising generally an elongated member adapted to be supported between a pair of opposing players by means of body pressure applied by 3,508,359 Patented Apr. 28, 1970 the players on the opposite ends of such member. A generally at and preferably flexible part 12 is pivotally supported on an intermediate portion of the elongated member 10 and includes a weighted element, such as a bell 14, on its outer or free end portion. With such device, the two players, through cooperative and rhythmic body motions can effect swinging movement of the flexible part 12, such movement being initially to and fro like a pendulurn and gradually gaining momentum so that the entire part 12 can be eventually rotated about the axis of the elongated supporting member 10*. One form of game proposed to be played with such apparatus involves timing each pair of players in order to determine which team can keep the part 12 rotating for the longest period of time.

In particular, it will be noted from the drawings that the elongated member 10 is a relatively rigid tube or rod of cylindrical cross-section, and the supports for the opposite ends of this rod are in the form of curved elements 16 simulating a pair of human hands. The hand-shaped elements 16 are preferably of molded plastic, and each is provided with a relatively thick mid portion 18 having a cylindrical recess 20 formed therein for removably receiving an end of the elongated rod. The hand-shaped parts 16 are preferably generally hollow, with rib portions 22 formed therein to provide the required strength.

The pendulum-like part 12 is preferably formed of flexible plastic material but, of course, may also be generally rigid and of other material. The use of a flexible strap for part 12 makes it somewhat more diflicult to effect the motion required by the players to initiate and sustain rotation of part 12 about its supporting rod 10. The upper end portion of the pendulum-like part 12 is formed with alternately positioned, semi-cylindrical parts 24 which cooperate to provide a bearing surface which removably receives the rod 10. Preferably, the fit between such bearing surface and rod 10 is relatively loose, and the pendulum part 12 is selectively fixed axially of the rod 10 by means of -a pair of rubber or plastic washer elements 26 removably positioned on the rod in frictional engagement therewith adjacent opposite ends of the pendulum bearing portion.

In order to provide sound and also give the pendulum part 12 the desired weight at its free end, a bell 14 is mounted in a recess 28 formed adjacent the outer end of part 12. Bell 14 has fixed thereto a supporting shaft portion 30 which is fitted at its opposite ends into a pair of axially aligned bosses 32 formed in the generally flat, pendulum part 12. The metal portion 34 of the bell is provided with a generally flat and vertically extending part 36, and a clapper 38 is disposed inside the bell for swinging movement relative thereto. It will be apparent that swinging motion of the pendulum part 12 will be accompanied by swinging motion of clapper 38 and sounding of the bell. Further, the bell 34 and clapper 38 are arranged to provide for sounding of the bell when the centrifugal force on these two elements might otherwise keep them in constant contact. For this purpose, the clapper 38 is of suflicient length to project beyond the bell 34 but still be able to strike the sides of the bell, and a projection 39 at the lower end of recess 28 is in position to be struck by the clapper 38 and delay the swinging motion of the latter. Consequently, as the pendulum 12 is swung in a circle, the clapper 38 is momentarily delayed in its movement from one side of bell 34 to the other as the clapper strikes and then moves around projection 39, and clapper 38 is thereby provided with a motion that is out-of-phase with respect to the movement of the bell part 34. This arrangement provides for an essentially continuous ringing of the bell.

For further visual effect and ornamentation there is also provided a pair of discs 40 which are carried by intermediate portions of part 12 and are rotatable relative thereto. Each of these discs 40 includes a supporting center shaft 42 which is journaled at its opposite ends within a pair of bosses 44 formed on the strap. The pendulum part 12 is, of course, slidable along the supporting rod 10 and may be held in place at any position intermediate the hand-like parts 16 through use of the rubber washers 26.

Consequently it is seen that the described apparatus provides means for playing a game which requires the cooperative effort of two players and involves physical activity on the part of the players. Since the achievement of a rapidly swinging motion for the pendulum 12 requires a definite rhythm of motion on the part of both of the players, the described game apparatus is particularly adapted for use to the accompaniment of music.

Although shown and described with respect to particular apparatus, it will be apparent that various modifications might be made without departing from the prin'ciples of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Game apparatus comprising an elongated member, support means at each of the opposite ends of said elongated member having an outwardly facing surface portion adapted to fit against the body of a player, whereby said member can be supported in a generally horizontal position through body pressure on the ends thereof by at one end on said elongated member inoutwardly protwo players, a generally flat member pivotally mounted jecting relation thereto and including an opening adjacent the other end of said member, and a bell pivotally mounted on said member within said opening and comprising a metal bell housing and a clapper mounted for movement in said housing through a path extending below said bell housing, said bell receiving opening including an edge portion in position for momentary engagement by said clapper to delay the swinging movement of the latte-r through said path as the two players move their bodies with a rocking movement to effect swinging movement of said flat member.

W References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,383,283 7/1921 Blake 4652 2,726,480 12/1955 Lawter 4652 3,104,877 9/1963 Gross 27395.1 3,162,975 12/1964 Amato 4652 X 'ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

